Boston Legal: Was Last Night’s Episode the Series Finale?

by Trevor Kimball, May 22, 2008

If you watched last night’s season finale of Boston Legal, you might have been a little confused.

At the end of the episode, Alan (James Spader) and Denny (William Shatner) had their usual chat on Denny’s balcony. They reflected on the day, on their sometimes exhausting work, and how much they just wanted to kick back and go fishing together. Denny said, “Let’s go. Now… Let’s hang the gone fishin’ sign on the door and just go.” As music plays in the background, we see the two friends walking down the streets of Boston; wearing their Auxiliary Coast Guard uniforms, laughing, and smoking cigars. As the music continues to play, we see various areas of the empty law firm offices. The final image is of a “Gone Fishin'” sign hanging on Denny’s door. Sounds like a series finale doesn’t it? Well, it was… sort of.

As you might know, Boston Legal was one of those shows “on the bubble” — one of the many semi-popular series whose renewal wasn’t a sure thing. Many those shows’ producers choose to end their seasons with cliffhangers in hopes that that will improve their program’s chances of being renewed.

Legal creator David E. Kelley decided to play it safe. When last night’s episode was being filmed, Kelley knew there was a good chance that the law firm of Crane, Poole and Schmidt wouldn’t be back next season. Rather than possibly leaving the audience hanging, he crafted last night’s episode so that it could serve as either a season or a series finale.

Last night’s episode likely would have been the Legal series finale had it not been for ABC’s interest in another series. Kelley owns the U.S. rights for Life on Mars and ABC wants it for the network’s 2008 – 2009 midseason schedule. Kelley was obligated to produce the series for ABC but either he or the network wanted him off the project. Because he owns the rights, Kelley was able to negotiate a fifth season of Legal as part of his exit deal.

Unfortunately, the renewal came with a price. It was revealed last week that year five will be series’ last. The season will be made up of only 13 episodes; 11 hour-long and a two-hour series finale. Production will begin in June and is expected to wrap in November.

With a reduced show budget, the size of the cast will be significantly reduced. Spader and Christian Clemenson (“Jerry”) are the only two that will be around for sure right now. Shatner and Candice Bergen are likely to be signed soon. Beyond that, it’s hard to say. Saffron Burrows won’t be back for sure since she’s already signed on for a new NBC series called My Own Worst Enemy. The cast purge is reminiscent of the last season of The Practice (Legal’s predecessor) in which series star Dylan McDermott and many others were dropped due to budget cuts.

Could Legal be saved? Possibly but not probably. If the ratings vastly improve, ABC would surely love to bring it back for a sixth season. Unfortunately, that’s not likely to happen. The show will have been around five years and, as is the case with most serial shows, you don’t get many new viewers once a show’s been around that long. On top of that, some existing viewers stop watching. Legal’s audience also skews a bit older which isn’t very attractive to advertisers.

Though next season is scheduled to be Legal’s last, Kelley will likely be writing all 13 hours so you know that they’re going to be something to remember. You can be sure that, at the very least, he’ll give us another fitting Legal series finale. Stay tuned!

I’m in South Africa and wouldn’t like to see BL come to an end. I am addicted to the show and have bought all its DVD’s 1-4. Am now waiting for the 5th season DVD to come out. Pls retain it. Its a kill here in South Africa.

I still can’t get over the cancellation of Boston Legal, I watch a total of 4 shows on TV and Boston Legal was at the top of that list…the other show I watched was Eli Stone…now that both BL and ES are gone, I’m down to just Smallville and Supernatural…which are entirely different shows…gah I miss BL already 🙁

This is a perfect example of the “dumbing of America”. This show makes you think, and the government controlled media makes sure that we remain sheep, not a “thinking” America. Boston Legal was the highlight of my t. v. week, as a matter of fact, the only television that i watched. What a shame this stimulating and funny show will not return.

Boston legal is so real on current world wide events that’s going on the world today , and all so real they need to keep it coming . I really enjoyed the seasons I seen , so don’t delay make it happen .

Boston Legal is perhaps the best show ever. I watch episodes over and over again. I cried during the series finale. This is the only show of its kind on TV. I love it. I love Denny. David E. Kelly is amazing. Its so foolish that ABC would want to cancel it. All other shows on TV are so stupid and immature. I am eighteen years old but I like sophisticated shows, not Scrubs or Family Guy. Boston Legal has made me think differently about abortion, gay marriage, the war, tobacco laws. and a whole host of other topics. This… Read more »

I look forward to Monday’s because Boston Legal was on. I’ve only started watching it early this year because there was nothing else to watch on the other channels. So glad to have found it. Such a disappointment to see that last night was the “series finale”. The best parts of the show were the cast and the writing. It dealt with current issues and gave opposing sides of the argument. It makes you think and laugh. Where can you find that kind of entertainment with a touch of reality?? I was really impressed with the writing and the amount… Read more »

I watched the back-to-back final today. It’s as great as ever. I will truly miss the show. Wish they can bring them back. Perhaps Allen and Danny will start a new practice for the poor? That’d be great.
James Spader, William Shatner, and Candice Burgen, and all others, you guys are fantastic.
The writer and creator, write more. Can you convince the network to bring back Boston Legal? I love the cigar scenes at the end of each show. I love everything about the show. Thanks.

WHY would ABC cancel this show? I get more to think about from watching this show than any 20-20 episode in recent memory. Terrific actors, great writing with the exception of 2-3 shows in 5 years and nobody is watching? Who is running the ratings here? Everyone I talk to loves this show! Maybe CBS will buy the rights, there is more to watch on that network anyway. This now brings my ABC viewing to exactly zero shows in a week.

I am crestfallen that this show is coming to an end. I watch very little television, but this show is the highlight of my week. I have fallen in love with all the characters-the actors in this series are phenominal. In an hour, they can take your emotions on a daredevil rollercoaster ride. In the course of an hour, I laugh, become indignant, become sad, wince a bit , then laugh again. If this program were in a different time-slot, it would certainly capture more viewers. Bravo to the entire cast and crew of BL. James Spader….an amazing talent. From… Read more »

If ABC thinks that they can’t get new viewers in its last season, they are sadly mistaken. I became a huge fan just in November of 2008 as I discovered its reruns on ION Television. I was hooked. I bought the Season 1-4 DVDs and I’m working on catching up. I

DO NOT CANCEL BL? And what’s with this “Legal’s audience also skews a bit older which isn’t very attractive to advertisers” crap. what do u mean not attractive to advertisers. as JOhn Larcoette’s character said majority of the population are older and have the disposable income. gimme a break
so what kind of entertainment are we gonna have. more reality crap
i miss the hard core entertainment of the past like carol burnett, magnum, happy days. Guess hollywood doesn’t know how to make those shows anymore but can’t fess up to it!

I’ve watched each and every episode of this phenominal series. The people I know that watch it are far from older- It’s a funny, classy, serious, and sad show wrapped up perfectly with a bow. ABC David E. Kelley has put out some of the best series I’ve ever seen.

Boston Legal is the only show I look forward to every week. I don’t care where you move it to, I will find it. I agree about the reality shows. They stink and are stupit. Please keep the most entertaining show on the air… Boston Legal.